In a special White House Rose Garden ceremony on June 6, President Donald Trump signed into law the VA Mission Act of 2018, which offers veterans more care options by authorizing Veterans Affairs (VA) provider agreements, or Veterans Care Agreements, for facilities offering extended care, including skilled nursing centers. The move marks a celebratory end to a years-long American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) push to get the VA provider agreements into law. Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates Kirk Cox (R-Colonial Heights), a long-time supporter of veterans’ issues, attended the bill signing ceremony.

In a statement Speaker Cox remarked, “I was honored to attend this bipartisan bill signing ceremony with President Trump, Vice President Pence, and congressional leaders,” said Speaker Cox. “The bill makes much-needed investments in the healthcare of our nation’s heroes and includes important reforms to make sure they get the healthcare they need when they need it. It will have a dramatic impact on the lives of the nearly one million veterans and their families who call the Commonwealth of Virginia home.”

Read more about the bill and its impact from Provider: President Signs Comprehensive VA Bill That Will Give Veterans More Care Options